Alzheimer Europe holds Public Affairs meeting in Brussels

Tuesday 26 June 2012

Alzheimer Europe held its third Public Affairs meeting on 26-27 June in Brussels. 21 people attended the meeting, including 15 representatives from national Alzheimer Associations (see below).

The meeting was dedicated to a comparison of national dementia strategies and policies in the areas of early diagnosis, treatment and research. The contributions by member organisations will help Alzheimer Europe in the development of national reports which will be included in the organisation’s 2012 Dementia in Europe Yearbook. In addition, the meeting was dedicated to identifying good practices in the three areas covered with the aim of developing recommendations which will also be included in the Yearbook.

The following issues were discussed in greater detail:

The role of general practitioners in the detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease,

Care pathways from primary to secondary care,

Diagnostic protocols,

The reimbursement of treatments,

GP training and support,

Support of dementia research by national governments,

Awareness campaigns and lobbying activities of national Alzheimer associations and

The involvement of national organisations in the development and monitoring of dementia strategies.